Mike Carter Award launched to recognise North West's young volunteers

We've launched the Mike Carter Award to recognise the passion and dedication of young volunteers across the north west.

Mike Carter, volunteer

Mike Carter, who died in February 2017, enjoyed and supported the canals and rivers for many decades, giving his time and expertise in various volunteering roles for us and the Inland Waterways Association. He was particularly passionate about encouraging younger generations to enjoy and maintain the waterways. In recent years Mike was deeply involved with the Explorers group working out of our Wigan office, and helped with school assemblies and towpath activities in the Liverpool area particularly. He had also run athletics events for young people with disabilities of various kinds for many years.

In his memory, the Mike Carter Award will recognise one individual plus a group for their inspirational volunteering work in our North West and North Wales and Borders waterway regions.

Tony Entwistle, our development engagement manager said: "Mike devoted his free time to educate and encourage young people in the area to engage with the waterways and his passion and knowledge shone through, so we’re really proud to launch the Mike Carter Award in his memory.

"We know there are many wonderful volunteers across the region, so we expect to have a really tough time choosing the winners."

Anyone can make a nomination online at: Mike Carter Award . Nominees must be under 25 and either currently volunteering or have volunteered in the last three years on any of the waterways in the area: Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Lancaster Canal, Sankey Canal, Ribble Link, Llangollen Canal, Shropshire Union Canal, Weaver Navigation, Montgomery Canal, Shrewsbury & Newport Canals.

The individual winner will receive a trophy and the winning group will receive £100 towards their project. Entries close on 30 July 2018 and the winners will be announced at the Annual Partnership Meeting in autumn 2018.